By Usman Usman Garba
Kano State Government in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) has strongly recommended the use of seasonal malaria chemoprevention (SMC) as a proven intervention that is cost-effective, safe, and reliable for malaria prevention, especially in regions with highly seasonal malaria transmission.
Children aged 3-59 months at risk of severe malaria should be given chemoprevention drugs during peak malaria transmission rainy seasons to reduce the disease burden.
This was revealed by the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Dr Abubakar Labaran Yusuf during the 2024 Seasonal Malaria Chemoprevention (SMC) at Emergency Operation Centre (EOC), Muhammad Abdullahi Wase Teaching Hospital, Kano.
He said, “In Kano State, malaria is the most common single reason for hospital outpatient visits and consultations, accounting for 60% of these visits (two-thirds) and 30% of hospital admissions (one-third).
“In the first quarter of 2023, about 413,827 individuals were diagnosed and confirmed to have uncomplicated malaria and were treated with free ACTs. Six-three (63) under-five malaria-related deaths were recorded.
The commissioner also stated that the program started from this month to October and the Kano State Government in partnership with others spent more than 3 billion naira for the administration of the (Sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine and Amodiaquine SP+AQ) drugs.
He also urged the good people of the state to seize another golden opportunity by availing their children aged 3–59 months of the free house-to-house mass drug administration to prevent malaria through the Seasonal Malaria Chemo-preventive platform.
The exercise would be conducted across the state in four (4) consecutive cycles of the rainy season within four (4) days per month, beginning today July 19th to October 2024.
“This intervention aims at reaching about 3,490,355 million 3-59-months-old children to prevent malaria episodes among the targeted groups,” stressed the commissioner.
Dr Yusuf has similarly emphasized that the Kano State government has been spending billions of naira on the procurement and free distribution of insecticidal-treated nets to the good people of Kano State.
“On this note, I want to call on the public to ensure they air new nets under the shade for 24 hours (1 day) before first use, make sure the nets are not hung in a place with direct sunlight or wet, and ensure they sleep inside the net from the sunset to the sunrise with open windows for proper ventilation,” he advised.
The commissioner has however drawn the attention of the people of the state to contribute to fighting malaria as the government alone cannot do it all without the assistance of individuals and the community at large.
“At this juncture, I would like to draw the attention of all to the fact that the government alone cannot win the war against this dreaded disease without the partnership of the private sector and support from our dear communities.
“The private sector can also assist in fighting malaria by supporting and funding malaria elimination initiatives, while individuals and communities can contribute to our collective effort to fight malaria by keeping their environment clean, as it is the breeding site for mosquitoes.
“This can be achieved through the elimination of stagnant water in rain gutters, old tyres, buckets, plastic covers, toys, broken bottles or any other container where pests can breed. Empty and change the water in bird baths, fountains, wading pools, rain barrels, and potted plant trays at least once a week to destroy potential habitats,” he suggested.
He lastly appreciated and acknowledged the immense contributions of the federal government and developmental partners working across the state in fighting against malaria to the eradication level.
